EVENT PARAMETERS: Students may bring scissors, a ruler, and a pair of pliers.

A TEAM OF UP TO: 2 APPROXIMATE TIME: 40 minutes

THE COMPETITION:

1. Each team of students will be given a bag of building materials. All bags will contain the same materials. The contents may include, but are not limited to: paper cups, drinking straws, paper clips, string, tape, paper, thumbtacks, Popsicle sticks, etc. This is only a sample list; the actual materials supplied may be different. If the device is required to support a load, the load will be available to the students so they can incorporate it into their building plans. The students may remove the load until immediately prior to testing the device by the judges.

2. The team of students will have a maximum of 40 min. to construct the specified device.

3. Only those materials contained in the bag may be used to build the structure. The bag may not be used. No other materials or adhesives may be part of the finished device.

4. Unless specifically stated in the instructions, devices must be freestanding and may not be attached to a tabletop, floor, ceiling or other support.

5. This event should occur in a large room or in multiple rooms at the same time. Since students will not know the type of device to be built ahead of time, no one other than the judges and contestants will be allowed in the building/judging area.

SCORING: All devices will be ranked according to the following rubrics:

A. The Primary and Secondary Dimensions specified in the building instructions will be measured and recorded as accurately as possible by the judges and if required, prior to placing the load on the device. The devices will be judged according to the Primary Dimension (e.g., height for a tower, length for a bridge or cantilever). The device with the greatest Primary Dimension (and if required, that supports the load for a specified time) will be the winner.

B. If a load is required, devices that do not support the load for the specified time will be ranked, by their Primary Dimension, after all those that do, Devices that do not support the load may not be ranked ahead of devices that do.

C. In the event of a tie, the device with the smallest Secondary Dimension (e.g., width of base of lower or width of bridge or cantilever) will be the winner.